Unit 2 Culture
Culture - the shared products of human groups
ie: physical objects, beliefs, values, and behaviors
Subcultures - a world within the dominant culture
provides its members with values and distinctive ways of viewing the world
show solidarity in shared interest
ie: bodybuilders, ballroom dancers, truck drivers
Countercultures - a group with norms and values at odds with the dominant culture
ie: neonazis
Material Culture - physical objects that people create (tangible)
Nonmaterial Culture - abstract human creations such as beliefs, values, and behavior
Components of Culture
Values - common ideas that people of a society share
ie: freedom or humanitarianism
Norms - the rules, laws, or expected behaviors of a society
Folkways: minor behaviors that are seen as polite of tradition (raising hand)
Mores: behavioral expectations that protect the safety and well-being of society (using crosswalks)
Language - method of communication that members of a society use to share ideas
Material Possessions - physical objects that people create
Symbols - gestures, signs, words, objects, people, or events that represent something to members of society
Levels of Culture
Culture Patterns - a combination of a number of culture complexes into an interrelated whole (sports)
Culture Complexes - a cluster of interrelated culture traits (baseball)
Culture Traits - an individual tool, act, belief, or behavior that is related to a particular culture complex (pitching
American Values
Personal Achievement - finish a marathon
Work - completing a 40hr work week
Morality - not cheating
Humanitarianism - donating blood
Efficiency - hybrid car
Progress - develop cure for cancer
Material Comfort - buying shoes
Equality - salary equality
Democracy - voting
Freedom - protesting
Responses to Cultural Variations
Ethnocentrism - the tendency to view one’s culture as being superior
ethnic nationalists believe a country should be made up of the same culture
positive - in-group loyalty, pride
negatives - alienation, stereotypes
Culture Relativism - cultures should be judged on their own standards not those of an opposing culture
Cultural Universals - features developed by all societies to fulfill basic needs
George Murdock made a list >65 universals
specific nature may vary widely between cultures
Cultural Change
Social Movements - a large group of people who protest for change
“Green” Movement → more environmental
Technology - advancements or innovations which happen over time
smart phones
gaming systems
Population - movement of a large group of people from one place to another
sushi
Physical Environment - natural disasters that impact the environment we live in
Hurricane Katrina (2005)
Great Appalchine Storm (1950)
War and Conquest - conflicts between countries or groups of people
September 11, 2001
Cultural Lag - when some aspects of a culture change more slowly than others
internet and regulation laws
Vested Interest - individuals and groups that are reluctant to change aspects of their culture that impact them
oil companies vs. energy legislation
Social Movements
Loosely or tightly organized collective efforts by relatively powerless groups to affect social or political change operating outside of institutionalized political channels
civil rights
global justice
women’s movement
Key Characteristic of Social Movements
operate outside of political systems
arise from a groups exclusion from “normal” political channels
resisted by those in positions of power and privilege (especially when threatened)
it is preferred protesters go through institutionalized channels run by power
Goals of Social Movements
Redistribute material resources more equitably
labor movement, global justice
Gain full citizenship and/or rights
Civil rights, women’s, gay rights
Redefine society’s norms, values, and priorities
environmental, anti-war
Source of Power
By withholding their consent
refusing to participate in everyday life
denying others their labor
most effective when done collectively
Tactics and Strategies
Civil disobedience - purposefully and openly violating the law
Street Protests - marches, parades, rallies
Strikes - refusing to work to force employer to concede
Boycotts - refusing to shop, buy, or patronize a targeted enterprise
Property Damage - intentional damage done to public or private property
Violence - use of public force or power against another
Importance in Sociology
Represents the efforts to redefine social reality from the bottom-up
Expose the normally hidden dynamics and structures of power in society
Demonstrate that otherwise powerless people are able to “act back” and influence society
Unit 2 Culture
Culture - the shared products of human groups
ie: physical objects, beliefs, values, and behaviors
Subcultures - a world within the dominant culture
provides its members with values and distinctive ways of viewing the world
show solidarity in shared interest
ie: bodybuilders, ballroom dancers, truck drivers
Countercultures - a group with norms and values at odds with the dominant culture
ie: neonazis
Material Culture - physical objects that people create (tangible)
Nonmaterial Culture - abstract human creations such as beliefs, values, and behavior
Components of Culture
Values - common ideas that people of a society share
ie: freedom or humanitarianism
Norms - the rules, laws, or expected behaviors of a society
Folkways: minor behaviors that are seen as polite of tradition (raising hand)
Mores: behavioral expectations that protect the safety and well-being of society (using crosswalks)
Language - method of communication that members of a society use to share ideas
Material Possessions - physical objects that people create
Symbols - gestures, signs, words, objects, people, or events that represent something to members of society
Levels of Culture
Culture Patterns - a combination of a number of culture complexes into an interrelated whole (sports)
Culture Complexes - a cluster of interrelated culture traits (baseball)
Culture Traits - an individual tool, act, belief, or behavior that is related to a particular culture complex (pitching
American Values
Personal Achievement - finish a marathon
Work - completing a 40hr work week
Morality - not cheating
Humanitarianism - donating blood
Efficiency - hybrid car
Progress - develop cure for cancer
Material Comfort - buying shoes
Equality - salary equality
Democracy - voting
Freedom - protesting
Responses to Cultural Variations
Ethnocentrism - the tendency to view one’s culture as being superior
ethnic nationalists believe a country should be made up of the same culture
positive - in-group loyalty, pride
negatives - alienation, stereotypes
Culture Relativism - cultures should be judged on their own standards not those of an opposing culture
Cultural Universals - features developed by all societies to fulfill basic needs
George Murdock made a list >65 universals
specific nature may vary widely between cultures
Cultural Change
Social Movements - a large group of people who protest for change
“Green” Movement → more environmental
Technology - advancements or innovations which happen over time
smart phones
gaming systems
Population - movement of a large group of people from one place to another
sushi
Physical Environment - natural disasters that impact the environment we live in
Hurricane Katrina (2005)
Great Appalchine Storm (1950)
War and Conquest - conflicts between countries or groups of people
September 11, 2001
Cultural Lag - when some aspects of a culture change more slowly than others
internet and regulation laws
Vested Interest - individuals and groups that are reluctant to change aspects of their culture that impact them
oil companies vs. energy legislation
Social Movements
Loosely or tightly organized collective efforts by relatively powerless groups to affect social or political change operating outside of institutionalized political channels
civil rights
global justice
women’s movement
Key Characteristic of Social Movements
operate outside of political systems
arise from a groups exclusion from “normal” political channels
resisted by those in positions of power and privilege (especially when threatened)
it is preferred protesters go through institutionalized channels run by power
Goals of Social Movements
Redistribute material resources more equitably
labor movement, global justice
Gain full citizenship and/or rights
Civil rights, women’s, gay rights
Redefine society’s norms, values, and priorities
environmental, anti-war
Source of Power
By withholding their consent
refusing to participate in everyday life
denying others their labor
most effective when done collectively
Tactics and Strategies
Civil disobedience - purposefully and openly violating the law
Street Protests - marches, parades, rallies
Strikes - refusing to work to force employer to concede
Boycotts - refusing to shop, buy, or patronize a targeted enterprise
Property Damage - intentional damage done to public or private property
Violence - use of public force or power against another
Importance in Sociology
Represents the efforts to redefine social reality from the bottom-up
Expose the normally hidden dynamics and structures of power in society
Demonstrate that otherwise powerless people are able to “act back” and influence society
